Multi-functional sink tool

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a multi-functional sink tool. More specifically, a combined dish brush for cleaning food waste off tableware located at one end of a handle member and a plunger, pusher or ram distal to the dish brush for moving food waste, into and down a food waste disposer outlet, such as a drain. The tool also relates to a plunger, pusher or ram for use in connection with a food waste disposer unit connected to the food waste disposer outlet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Described herein is a multi-functional sink tool. More specifically, acombined dish brush for cleaning food waste off tableware located at oneend of a handle member and a plunger, pusher or ram distal to the dishbrush for moving food waste, into and down a food waste disposer outlet,such as a drain. The tool also relates to a plunger, pusher or ram foruse in connection with a food waste disposer unit connected to the foodwaste disposer outlet.

BACKGROUND ART

In most modern kitchens, a standard part of a kitchen sink is a foodwaste disposer outlet, such as a drain that houses a garbage disposalunit or food waste disposer. As would be expected, there are consumersthat have a natural apprehension of putting their hands near a foodwaste disposer unit hence products are available that are used to pushfood waste into the food waste disposer unit.

For example, Mr Scrappy MST-10 is a multi-purpose tool that functions asa plug and a plunger to push waste into the food waste disposer. Thetool comprises a scraper that scrapes food waste from a plate and aplunger that plunges the food waste through the food waste disposeropening, eliminating the need to use your hands or an eating utensil. Acutlery guard acts as a guard to prevent cutlery or other objects fromaccidently falling into the food waste disposer and the tool can alsoact as a stopper when the sink needs to be filled with water.

Danco manufacture the ‘Genie’ garbage disposal strainer. It is notconfigured to be a stopper, but sits in the disposer and allows smallparticles of food and water to flow freely into the food waste disposerwhile preventing silverware and other items from slipping into thedrain. The disposal can run freely with the Genie in place. The strainercomprises a rubber scraper to push food off the plates and down into thedrain.

Norpro manufacture a ‘Super Stuffer’ that pushes garbage and kitchenwaste into a food waste disposer and can be stored in the sink drain tokeep utensils and small objects from falling into the food wastedisposer unit.

Australian Patent Application No. AU 68637/94 describes a plunger orscraper for use in moving waste substances, mainly food, into and down afood waste disposer outlet. This outlet can be a type connectable to afood waste disposal unit. The plunger also can be used to sit in thedrain whilst the unit is in use, with water running through the plunger,or it can be used as a plug. The plunger comprises a handle, two or morescraper blades, and two collars, the lower of which is slotted. Eachcollar is fitted with a replaceable washer for sealer the plunger in thedrain.

However, a disadvantage of the above tools that it is not easy to cleanand remove food waste from a plate with the scraper (non-existent in the‘Super Stuffer’) and as the tools are configured to engage directly witha disposal outlet, there is limited movement when trying to push foodwaste into the food waste disposer.

Libman and Scotch-Brite™ manufacture a kitchen brush with a circularbrush head. Aside from cleaning plates and utensils, the circular brushhead may be used as a plunger to push waste into the food wastedisposer. However, the bristles may be damaged upon contact with thedisposer lugs when used as a plunger, pusher or ram.

Oxo™ Steel manufacture a long-handled dish brush with a soft button thatdoubles as a seal. Opening the seal allows the user to fill the bodywith soap. The opening is resealed and soap is dispensed with the pressof a button. Bristles on the brush allow baked on food and the like tobe scrubbed away. However, a disadvantage of this brush is that it isnot able to act as an effective plunger as the bristles may be damagedupon contact with the disposer lugs (as per the Libman and Scotch-Brite™brushes above)

U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,362 discloses a combined sink strainer and scrubbrush unit with or without a sink stopper disc which seats into a foodwaste disposer inlet depending from a sink bottom. A horizontal strainerbase has a series of drain apertures therein and a series of spacedbrush elements either moulded with the base or attached to the base anddepending from the base. A handle is attached to the base for manualremoval of the unit from the food waste disposer inlet and forhand-manipulating the unit to scrape/scrub foodstuff and other debrisfrom dish plates, cooking pots, and sink surfaces into the sink anddisposal inlet. A rubber stopper disc is mounted on top of the base forrotational and sliding movement thereon. Radial drain holes in the discare alignable with the base drain apertures in a drain “open” positionand are offset therefrom in a drain “closed” sealing position.

However, a disadvantage of the above combined sink strainer and scrubbrush unit is that it is engages with the food waste disposer inlet andtherefore is unable to act as a plunger, hence is unable to push foodwaste into the food waste disposer.

Further aspects and advantages of the multi-functional sink tool willbecome apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way ofexample only.

SUMMARY

Described herein is a multi-functional sink tool. More specifically, acombined dish brush for cleaning food waste off tableware located at oneend of a handle member and a plunger, pusher or ram distal to the dishbrush for moving food waste, into and down a food waste disposer outlet,such as a drain. The tool also relates to a plunger, pusher or ram foruse in connection with a food waste disposer unit connected to the foodwaste disposer outlet.

In a first aspect there is provided a multi-functional sink toolcomprising:

-   -   at least one dish brush at one end of a handle member with a        gripping means; and    -   at least one plunger, pusher or ram at a second end of the        handle member and distal to the dish brush for safely moving        substances into and down a food waste disposer unit        wherein the plunger, pusher or ram comprises a curved lip for        increased articulation and a range of movement when moving food        waste, into and down the food waste disposer unit.

In a second aspect there is provided a multi-functional sink toolcomprising:

-   -   at least one dish brush at one end of a handle member with a        gripping means; and    -   at least one plunger, pusher or ram at a second end of the        handle member and distal to the dish brush for safely moving        substances into and down a food waste disposer unit        wherein the handle member comprises indicia thereon thereby        indicating a safe range of movement when moving food waste, into        and down the food waste disposer unit.

Advantages of the above include an ergonomic thick handle for easy gripof the apparatus and wherein, the apparatus is moulded from one piecematerial that is dishwasher safe. The plunger comprises a dimpledrubberised end to help grip food waste and a curved lip for increasedarticulation and a range of movement when moving food waste, into anddown the food waste disposer unit. The apparatus utilises durable nylonbristles that allow baked-on food and the like to be easily scrubbed.The handle member comprises indicia thereon thereby indicating a saferange of movement when moving food waste, into and down the food wastedisposer unit. For example, a colour change at the end of the plunger,pusher or ram member to indicate how far to push the plunger, pusher orram into a food waste disposer's rubber baffle. Hence, the apparatusalso addresses consumers' apprehension of putting their hands andfingers near a food waste disposer. A dish brush combined with aplunger, pusher or ram provides for a multi-functional sink tool. Thisovercomes the problems of having a number of kitchen tools that crowdthe sink benchtop. Finally, the apparatus is balanced with an endsurface that allows the apparatus to stand on its end outside the sinkafter use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of apparatus and uses thereof will become apparent fromthe following description that is given by way of example only and withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front side perspective view of the multi-functionalsink tool embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the multi-functional sink toolembodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a right side view of the multi-functional sink toolembodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a left side view of the multi-functional sink toolembodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear perspective view of the multi-functional sinktool embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the multi-functional sink toolembodiment showing an array of colour options;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front side perspective view of the multi-functionalsink tool embodiment standing on its end when not in use;

FIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of the multi-functional sink toolembodiment; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom view of the multi-functional sink toolembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, described herein is a multi-functional sink tool. Morespecifically, a combined dish brush for cleaning food waste offtableware located at one end of a handle member and a plunger, pusher orram distal to the dish brush for moving food waste, into and down a foodwaste disposer outlet, such as a drain. The tool also relates to aplunger, pusher or ram for use in connection with a food waste disposerunit connected to the disposal outlet.

For the purposes of this specification, the terms ‘about’ or‘approximately’ and grammatical variations thereof mean a quantity,level, degree, value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size,amount, weight or length that varies by as much as 30, 25, 20, 15, 10,9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1% to a reference quantity, level, degree,value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size, amount, weight orlength.

The term ‘substantially’ or grammatical variations thereof refers to atleast about 50%, for example 75%, 85%, 95% or 98%.

The term ‘comprise’ and grammatical variations thereof shall have aninclusive meaning—i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of notonly the listed components it directly references, but also othernon-specified components or elements.

The term ‘multi-functional sink tool’ or grammatical variations thereofrefers to a tool or utensil for use in the kitchen and having at leasttwo functionalities. For example, a brush and a plunger, a brush andsoap dispenser and the like.

The term ‘plunger’ and grammatical variations thereof should beunderstood to be a tool to push or move substances such as waste foodmaterial and the like into and down a food waste disposer unit. Thisterm may be used interchangeable with the term ‘ram or pusher’.

The term ‘food waste disposer unit’ should be understood to be anelectrically operated device fitted to the waste pipe of a kitchen sinkfor grinding up food waste and my be used interchangeably with the terms‘garbage disposal’ and/or ‘food waste disposer’.

The term ‘tableware’ or grammatical variations thereof refers to itemssuch as knives, forks, dishes, pots, and pans and the like that are usedfor having and/or cooking a meal.

In a first aspect there is provided a multi-functional sink toolcomprising:

-   -   at least one dish brush at one end of a handle member with a        gripping means; and    -   at least one plunger, pusher or ram at a second end of the        handle member and distal to the dish brush for safely moving        substances into and down a food waste disposer unit        wherein the plunger, pusher or ram comprises a curved lip for        increased articulation and a range of movement when moving food        waste, into and down the food waste disposer unit.

The dish brush may utilise durable nylon bristles. In this way, baked-onfood and the like can be easily scrubbed. Preferably, the dish brush maycomprise 7,500×0.4 mm nylon bristles to give improved cleaningqualities.

The handle member may be an ergonomically designed handle dimensionedfor easy grip of the apparatus able to be held by anyone. In preferredembodiments, the handle member may be of sufficient diameter orthickness to assist people, such as the elderly who may find itdifficult to grip items.

In addition to the above, in preferred embodiments the handle member mayhave a matte finish handle for an easier grip when surfaces are wet.

The plunger may comprise a rubberised end. In this way, the plunger mayassist with griping food waste when pushed into the food waste disposer.

In further embodiments, the plunger, pusher or ram may comprise adimpled rubberised end in order to help grip food waste to push into afood waste disposer as above.

The plunger, pusher or ram may comprise a curved lip for increasedarticulation and a range of movement when moving food waste, into anddown the food waste disposer unit. This configuration allows the tool tocontact the food waste disposer unit's inlet and at various angles toassist movement of food waste that may have become lodged at theperiphery of the food waste disposer inlet. Hence, this configurationovercomes the problems of prior art tools where these prior art toolsare configured to engage directly with a food waste disposer outlet,thereby limiting the tool's movement when trying to push waste into thefood waste disposer inlet.

A dish brush combined with a plunger, pusher or ram provides for amulti-functional sink tool. This overcomes the problems of having anumber of kitchen tools that crowd the sink benchtop and also theapparatus may be balanced with an end surface that allows the apparatusto stand on its end outside the sink when after use. Furthermore, thetool may make cleaning up faster with the brush head being used to cleanfood waste and the like off dinner plates before going into thedishwasher and the plunger, pusher or ram end pushing food waste intothe food waste disposer—all completed utilising one tool.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a dish brushin combination with a plunger should not be seen as a limitation on thetool embodiments envisaged for this invention. Other combinations oftools could conceivably be used with this invention. Non-limitingexamples may include a soap dispenser, scraper, plug, sourer, sponge padand the like. It is also envisaged that the tool embodiments may beinterchangeable and removably attached/detached from the handle member.

As above, the handle member may be hollow to house a reservoir for asoap dispenser or the like.

The apparatus may be moulded from a one piece material that isdishwasher safe. For example, manufacturing technology may use overmoulding rubber techniques when manufacturing the apparatus.

In a second aspect there is provided a multi-functional sink toolcomprising:

-   -   at least one dish brush at one end of a handle member with a        gripping means; and    -   at least one plunger, pusher or ram at a second end of the        handle member and distal to the dish brush for safely moving        substances into and down a food waste disposer unit        wherein the handle member comprises indicia thereon thereby        indicating a safe range of movement when moving food waste, into        and down the food waste disposer unit.

As above, the handle member may comprise indicia thereon therebyindicating a safe range of movement when moving food waste, into anddown the food waste disposer unit.

In one embodiment, the indicia may comprise a colour change at the endof the plunger member relative to the handle member to indicate how farto push the plunger into a food waste disposer's rubber baffle; hencethe apparatus also addresses consumers apprehension of putting theirhands and fingers near a food waste disposer. However, this should notbe seen as a limitation on the embodiments envisaged for this inventionas the indicia may include an inscribed line or a physical collar orbarrier to limit and/or indicate how far to push the plunger into a foodwaste disposer's rubber baffle.

The indicia colours may be selected from any one of the followingcolours of ISE Blue—BNPISEBlue01, Green—BNPGreen02, LightBlue—BNPLightBlue03, Orange—BNPOrange04, and Grey—BNPGrey05.

Advantages of the above include:

-   -   An ergonomic thick handle for easy grip of the apparatus and the        apparatus is moulded from one piece material that is dishwasher        safe;    -   The plunger, pusher or ram comprises a rubberised end to help        grip food waste to push into the food waste disposer;    -   The plunger, pusher or ram comprises a curved lip for increased        articulation and a range of movement when moving food waste,        into and down the food waste disposer unit;    -   The plunger, pusher or ram comprises a dimpled end to help grip        food waste to push into a food waste disposer;    -   The use of durable nylon bristles that allow baked-on food and        the like to be easily scrubbed;    -   The handle member comprises indicia thereon thereby indicating a        safe range of movement when moving food waste, into and down the        food waste disposer unit. For example, a colour change at the        end of the plunger member to indicate how far to push the        plunger, pusher or ram into a food waste disposer's rubber        baffle; hence the apparatus also addresses consumers'        apprehension of putting their hands and fingers near a food        waste disposer; and    -   A dish brush combined with a plunger provides for a        multi-functional sink tool. This overcomes the problems of        having a number of kitchen tools that crowd the sink benchtop        and also the apparatus is balanced with an end surface that        allows the apparatus to stand on its end outside the sink when        after use.

The embodiments described above may also be said broadly to consist inthe parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in thespecification of the application, individually or collectively, and anyor all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features.

Further, where specific integers are mentioned herein which have knownequivalents in the art to which the embodiments relate, such knownequivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as of individually setforth.

Working Examples

The above described apparatus and use thereof are now described byreference to a specific example.

Example

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, a multi-functional sink tool 1 is showncomprising dish brush 2 with durable nylon bristles at one end of ahandle member 3 with a gripping means for removing baked-on food and thelike from utensils and plates (note shown).

The handle member 3 is ergonomically designed and dimensioned with alength of 310 mm for easy grip of the tool 1 to enable the tool 1 to beheld by anyone. The handle member 3 is of sufficient diameter orthickness to assist people, such as the elderly who may find itdifficult to grip items. The handle member 3 has a matte finish handlemember 3 for an easier grip when surfaces are wet.

The plunger or ram 4 with an outer width of 54 mm has a dimpledrubberised end 5 distal to the dish brush 2 in order to help grip foodwaste to push into a food waste disposer (not shown) as above.

The plunger or ram 5 includes a curved lip 6 for increased articulationand a range of movement when moving food waste, into and down the foodwaste disposer unit. This configuration allows the tool 1 to contact thefood waste disposer unit's inlet and at various angles to assistmovement of food waste that may have become lodged at the periphery ofthe food waste disposer inlet.

The tool 1 is balanced with an end surface 7 that allows the tool 1 tostand on its end outside the sink when after use (best seen in FIG. 7).The tool 1 is moulded from a one piece material that is dishwasher safeand utilises over moulding rubber techniques when manufacturing the tool1.

The indicia 8 is a colour change at the end of the plunger member 4relative to the handle member 3 to indicate how far to push the plunger4 into a food waste disposer's rubber baffle (not shown). Thisconfiguration addresses consumers' apprehension of putting their handsand fingers near a food waste disposer. A range of colour options forthe tool 1 are shown in FIG. 6. Also, the bristles 2 (best seen in FIGS.6 and 7) may have indicia at the periphery of the bristles 2 therebyindicating wear of the bristles 2 and time for replacement of same.

In use, the tool 1 makes cleaning up faster with the brush head 2 beingused to clean food waste and the like off dinner plates before goinginto the dishwasher (not shown) and the plunger 4 end pushing food wasteinto the food waste disposer.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of exampleonly and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions maybe made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-functional sink tool, comprising: atleast one dish brush at one end of a handle member with a grippingmeans; and at least one plunger, pusher or ram at a second end of thehandle member and distal to the dish brush for safely moving substancesinto and down a food waste disposer unit, wherein the plunger, pusher orram comprises a curved lip for increased articulation and a range ofmovement when moving food waste, into and down the food waste disposerunit.
 2. The multi-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe dish brush comprises nylon bristles.
 3. The multi-functional sinktool as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nylon bristles are 7,500×0.4 mmnylon bristles.
 4. The multi-functional sink tool as claim in claim 1,wherein the handle member is ergonomically designed and dimensioned foreasy grip.
 5. The multi-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 4,wherein the handle member comprises a matte finish handle for an easiergrip when surfaces are wet.
 6. The multi-functional sink tool as claimedin claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a rubberised end for assistingwith griping food waste when pushed into the food waste disposer.
 7. Themulti-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plunger,pusher or ram comprises a dimpled rubberised for assisting with gripingfood waste when pushed into a food the waste disposer.
 8. Themulti-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved lipallows the tool to contact the food waste disposer unit's inlet and atvarious angles to assist movement of food waste that may have becomelodged at the periphery of the food waste disposer inlet.
 9. Themulti-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool isbalanced with an end surface that allows the tool to stand on its endoutside the sink after use.
 10. The multi-functional sink tool asclaimed in claim 1, wherein other combinations of tool embodiments areselected from any one of the following tools: a soap dispenser, scraper,plug, sourer, and/or sponge pad.
 11. The multi-functional sink tool asclaimed in claim 10, wherein the tool embodiments are interchangeableand removably attached/detached from the handle member.
 12. Themulti-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handlemember is hollow to house a reservoir for a soap dispenser.
 13. Themulti-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sink toolis moulded from a one piece material that is dishwasher safe.
 14. Themulti-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handlemember comprises indicia thereon thereby indicating a safe range ofmovement when moving food waste, into and down the food waste disposerunit.
 15. The multi-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 14, whereinthe indicia comprises a colour change at the end of the plunger memberrelative to the handle member to indicate how far to push the plungerinto a food waste disposer's rubber baffle.
 16. The multi-functionalsink tool as claimed in claim 14, wherein the indicia is an inscribedline or a physical collar or barrier to limit and/or indicate how far topush the plunger into a food waste disposer's rubber baffle.
 17. Themulti-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 15, wherein the indiciais an inscribed line or a physical collar or barrier to limit and/orindicate how far to push the plunger into a food waste disposer's rubberbaffle.
 18. The multi-functional sink tool as claimed in claim 2 whereinthe bristles comprise indicia thereby indicating wear of the bristlesand time for replacement of same.
 19. The multi-functional tool asclaimed in claim 14, wherein the indicia colours are selected from anyone of the following colours of: ISE Blue—BNPISEBlue01,Green—BNPGreen02, Light Blue —BNPLightBlue03, Orange—BNPOrange04, andGrey—BNPGrey05.
 20. The multi-functional tool as claimed in claim 15,wherein the indicia colours are selected from any one of the followingcolours of: ISE Blue—BNPISEBlue01, Green—BNPGreen02, Light Blue—BNPLightBlue03, Orange—BNPOrange04, and Grey—BNPGrey05.